Gosh, your parents hit you with a belt? That's horrible!
Hitting a child with an implement is illegal in my country. I find it really horrifying when people online talk about it happening to them. :(

Anyway, personally I feel that hitting your child in any way, shape or form is uncivilised and entirely inappropriate.
One of the hardest (but most important) things to teach a young child is not to hit. Even if you don't hit them with an implement, what kind of example are you setting your child? That it's okay to hit another human being. How irresponsible! Good parents lead by example, not hypocrisy.

There are many more effective punishments out there, they often do take more time and effort, but good parenting is not about quick fixes and taking the easiest option.